THE PHYSIOLOGIC EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGESTERONE VAGINAL SUPPOSITORIES

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Progesterone given in the form of vaginal suppositories is absorbed and is clinically effective. Potency and clinical effectiveness is greater than when progesterone is used sublingually. Effectiveness of progesterone when given in the form of vaginal suppositories was demonstrated by (a) thermogenic influence as recorded by basal temperature records, (b) the inhibition of arborization (fern phenomenon) of cervical mucus, (c) luteal changes in vaginal cytology, (d) induction of secretory activity in the endometrium, (e) urinary pregnanediol excretion, (f) withdrawal bleeding in amenorrheic women. Indeed, one of the best indices of progesterone utilization is the ability of this hormone to induce withdrawal bleeding in amenorrheic women. Amenorrheic patients were divided into 2 groups, viz., those with, and those without adequate intrinsic estrogen production, as judged by study of vaginal cytology. The latter were primed with estrogens. Progesterone suppositories were given in doses of 25 to 50 mg for 5-10 days. In many instances, however, the therapy was employed for only 5 days in a dosage of 25 mg/ suppository. Withdrawal bleeding occurred in 131 instances following 144 trials (90.9%). These results are almost identical with those obtained in similar studies employing a total of 150 mg of ethisterone or 450 mg of progesterone orally over a period of 5 days. The adequacy of progesterone vaginal suppository medication from the clinical point of view is therefore substantiated. Urinary pregnanediol excretion studies failed to reveal significant rises in pregnanediol titers following progesterone suppository medication.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: